Clothed With Scarlet

Contrary to culture....

...I fully agree...

"Obedience requires faith to do what I cannot understand; to believe what may not make sense."

"...Fundamental to all that we teach our children should be a denying of self, at all costs, and a “seeking first the kingdom of God”..."

Mrs. Crawford at Generation Cedar has written an excellent article.  One that flies in the face of today's culture... 

Why I’m Not Teaching My Children to Follow Their Dreams

“What if your daughter wanted to be an interior designer? Go to school and become a professional? I’m only asking what if. Would you push her to stay at home or to follow her dreams?”

I was asked this question during a topic about a woman’s calling to be a “keeper at home”.

I could write a book about all the ways a woman is free to “be all she can be” and still remain in the realm of helpmeet and keeper at home, about the glories of being freed from the slavery of someone else’s clock and schedule and agenda.

But before all of that, we must be grounded in the basic teaching of Scripture about the call of a Christian, which directly opposes the teaching of feminism.  
...finish reading the article here...

~~~
posted by Mrs. Aaron Klause

Blessed is the man that trusteth in him...

Psalm 34

 ¹I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

 ²My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

 ³O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

 ⁴I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

 ⁵They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

 ⁶This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

 ⁷The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

 ⁸O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

 ⁹O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

 ¹⁰The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

 ¹¹Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

 ¹²What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

 ¹³Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

 ¹⁴Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

 ¹⁵The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

 ¹⁶The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

 ¹⁷The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

 ¹⁸The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

 ¹⁹Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

 ²⁰He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

 ²¹Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

 ²²The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

................

posted by Mrs. Aaron Klause

Woman

"Woman was the finishing grace of the creation. Woman was the completeness of man's bliss in Paradise. Woman was the cause of sin and death to our world. The world was redeemed by the seed of the woman. Woman is the mother of the human race; our companion, counselor, and comforter in the pilgrimage of life; or our tempter, scourge, and destroyer. Our sweetest cup of earthly happiness, or our bitterest draught of sorrow, is mixed and administered by her hand. She not only renders smooth or rough our path to the grave, but helps or hinders our progress to immortality. In heaven we shall bless God for her aid in assisting us to reach that blissful state; or amid the torments of unutterable woe in another region, we shall deplore the fatality of her influence!"

             ~~ John Angell James, Female Piety, 1853

..................................................................................................................

posted by Mrs. Aaron Klause
February 2, 2012 

God provides...

 

For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.  II Kings 3:17 

I'd climb right up to the sky....

19 years ago today, I married the love of my life...

 

  

I'd climb right up to the sky
I'd take down the stars
Just to be in your arms
I'd go and capture the moon
That's what I would do
Just to hear you say that you love me

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall be one flesh.  ~Genesis 2:24

~~~~~~

 

I love you more than any words or actions could ever begin to express.

 

~~~~

posted by Mrs. Aaron Klause
October 3, 2011
Music:  Just To Hear You Say That You Love Me

There is no alternative...

"If you will not have death unto sin, you shall have sin unto death.
There is no alternative.
If you do not die to sin, you shall die for sin.
If you do not slay sin, it will slay you."

         ~~Charles Spurgeon

 

posted by Mrs. Klause
September 26, 2011

 

My Crown of Glory!

I wrote this a few years ago...my thoughts have not changed in the least...
~~~~~~~
Birthdays are so different now that I have my own children.  It is a wonderful day to celebrate a life...a life breathed into existence by our Heavenly Father!

 I decided some years back that I was going to grow old God's way.  I decided that I was going to refuse the world's way of everlasting youthfulness and embrace the blessing of growing older, whatever that may bring.

Bailey stood beside me a few years ago as I located my first grey strand atop my head.  Bailey  questioned my excitement.  I laughed and said to Bailey, "My words are not adequate, let me just read it to you."  She was fast on my heels as I spun around and headed toward my bible.

Here is what I read to my eldest daughter:

The hoaryhead is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.  ~~Proverbs 16:31

I explained to Bailey that hoary means grey.  Then I read it again like this:  "The grey head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness."  'Bailey, that means that God has started making my crown of glory!  My grey hair can be a crown of glory if I walk in righteousness with the Lord!  Isn't that exciting?  :0)'

 

:0)

With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.  ~~Job 12:12

It never fails.  If we look around us, we find that this old world twists every aspect of God's way for our lives.  I don't want any part of that.  He created us!  He knows how many hairs we have upon our heads...it is his hand that begins to "paint" each of those strands grey.  How can we possibly choose not to embrace God's perfect design?

There are many years to come before I resemble this lovely woman.  On each August 11th, I choose to be thankful for whatever the Lord brings in my next year of life. 

~~~

August 11th is also a day that think of my own mother...as she cared for a newborn infant and began her journey into motherhood.  If you are a mother, you know exactly how wonderful your child's birthday is. 

Happy Birthing Day Mother!  ;0)

  

~~~

written by Mrs. Klause

originally written on August 11, 2008

Music:  Moonlight Sonata in honor of my Mother & my Grandmother Bettye

 

 

I'm Real

It was only in the last few years that I read the story of The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.  The story begins on Christmas morning when a little boy finds a stuffed rabbit in his stocking.  The boy liked the rabbit and loved on him but in the bustle of the morning, the little rabbit was forgotten.  The rabbit lived here and there in the nursery and the other toys were not very nice to him.  It was only The Skin Horse that was kind to the little rabbit.

"The Skin Horse had lived longer in the nursery than any of the others. He was so old that his brown coat was bald in patches and showed the seams underneath, and most of the hairs in his tail had been pulled out to string bead necklaces. He was wise, for he had seen a long succession of mechanical toys arrive to boast and swagger, and by-and-by break their mainsprings and pass away, and he knew that they were only toys, and would never turn into anything else. For nursery magic is very strange and wonderful, and only those playthings that are old and wise and experienced like the Skin Horse understand all about it.  "What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"  "Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."  "Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.  "Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."  "Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"  "It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."  "I suppose you are real?" said the Rabbit. And then he wished he had not said it, for he thought the Skin Horse might be sensitive. But the Skin Horse only smiled. "The Boy's Uncle made me Real," he said. "That was a great many years ago; but once you are Real you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always." "

Have you ever felt as ragged as the Skin Horse?  Feeling shabby?  I know that there are some days in our home that I feel shabby.  It is a blessing however to have a dear husband and four little girls to love off most of my hair, cause me to get loose in the joints and feel as though my eyes have dropped out.  :0)   My husband and my children have blessed my life beyond any measure.  I am thankful that I am "Real", like Skin Horse.  I am thankful to have a husband that knows I am here to take care of him.  I am thankful that God has entrusted me to raise up and teach three little girls.  I cannot imagine life without my husband and children.  Wife to my beloved husband of nearing 19 years and Mother to four little girls...I would not have it any other way, not even for one single day.

"28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."  ~~Matthew 11:28-30

"Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come."  ~~Proverbs 31:25

posted by Mrs. Klause

October 23, 2007

Music: 4 a.m. by Candlelight by David Nevue

Mothers and Daughters

A few of my favorite pictures... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
......

posted by Mrs. Klause

May 8, 2011

 

 

 

Bailey's Quilted Pillows -- For Sale

I didn't start sewing until I was over 30.  My girls start sewing when they can sit in my lap at the machine and keep their hands in their own laps. 
So...about age two.     :)       Hehehe.....

Bailey started on the machine by herself at age six and she really enjoys sewing.   She turned nine in February.

She made the pillow on the left for Aaron's mother for her birthday (sshhh, it is in the mail now) and the pillow on the right for me for Christmas.

 

Back side of the same pillows:

 

She has made others for family members as well.

..............................................................

She has an entrepreneurial mindset and is always trying to think of something she can do or make that can be sold.  Some friends of our have a tiny consignment shop just for children to place their handmade goods to sell.  She made a few bookmarks and has turned over a tiny profit from those.   

She has not been convinced that folks would buy her pillows but I think she is wrong.  She has decided to give it a whirl.  

This is her first pillow that she is hopeful to sell.

 

Spring Pillow - $15
It measures about 15 inches X 15 inches.
It is lovely! 

She plans to make more and we will post them here as she plans and completes them.

Her next pillow will be Prairie Coneflowers...
 

Send me an email if you are interested in purchasing a pillow from her:
mrs.klause@hotmail.com

 

Teacup Tuesdays - 18 Bumble Bees

 

Let's see....I guess it would have been three months, two weeks and one day ago that my beloved husband gave me this porcelain teapot and honey pot.  It has tiny bumble bees on it. 

There was also a spoon rest...

 

And...a single teacup and saucer...

 

Some years back I started using the anniversary gift list when searching for an anniversary gift for my beloved.  It has put me on many fun and interesting paths and I have found some neat things that I would not have considered for him otherwise.  The 18th year is porcelain. 

So...for my 18th anniversary, my dearest husband gave to me something that he knew I would enjoy.  I love my bumble bee teacup, when I hold it in my hands, steaming with tea or coffee, I have the privilege of remembering the celebration of our 18th year of marriage.  I get to remember our dinner that he picked out so carefully just for me.  I get to remember an evening of walking and talking with my hand in his. 

Every time the swirling steam rises above the little yellow and white cup, I feel the warmth of his hand in mine and I am thankful for our 18 years together and I selfishly plead with the Lord that we will have at least 18 more. 

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause (rhymes with house)

January 18, 2011

Music:  By Your Side

Decently & In Order

 

Books...

I love books. 

My children love books.

We teach our children using the Ambleside curriculum and so our learning is literature based.  We think it is just grand.  Living books...books that sweep you up off of your feet and carry you right into the story.  Books that you cannot put down...   This is how we learn about art, music, geography, the lives of others, world history, American history, church history, science, grammar, spelling...everything but math, foreign language and typing.

The use of and love of books brings about the need for bookcases.

:0)

We only have four right now.  A wise woman once told me when Bailey was a toddler that I needed to determine my method for classifying, categorizing and shelving my books and begin when I only had a few books.

I researched methods of classifying a library of books and have opted to use the Library of Congress Classification System.  It is fairly simple.  Bailey and I have started labeling books but am realizing that even though I thought I was heeding the advice of my dear friend, I should have started earlier.  We currently have about 675 books.  I know what books we have on what topics and where I have had them shelved. 

Problem:   The children don't know what is in my head.  :0/     They are able to shelve the books based only on where they found them.  The girls are old enough to understand the very basics of shelving books according to their topic. 

One child not shelving books properly is one thing...but four children not shelving books properly just makes a big fat mess!

:0)

So, I am working to get our little library in order by looking up each book and recording the LOC classification number on the inside of the back cover of the book and then placing a small sticker on the base of spine.

 

Planning...

Logistics...

Follow-through...

I pray that the goals of our family would honor the Lord and bring Him glory.  Our little library is only a small part of our home that we are working to reach and maintain order within.  I am thankful for my beloved husband who encourages me and leads me in doing things decently and with more order.  May we continue to work together to plan and carry out what is right in our home.

Let all things be done decently and in order.   ~~I Corinthians 14:40

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

January 13, 2011

Matters of Motherhood on Mondays - Chores for the Long Haul

 

Chores and chore training...

Lessons of late for this momma:

Assigning a chore for too short a duration has been an error in our home, I think.  I met a family over the past year that assigns chores to their children for a year.  When first hearing this, it seemed like a very long time for a chore assignment.  I watched this family and listened over the year; I thought lots and my beloved and I talked much...

1.  A long-term chore assignment gives opportunity for the chore to be truly learned and mastered. 

2.  It gives opportunity for the child to know, without a doubt, that they "own" this responsibility and any complaining or grumbling is truly futile; there will be no getting out of the task. 

3.  Long-term assignments give opportunity for the chores to truly become a habit in their routine.

..................

My children are still on the young side.  We have made changes in our household routines and will continue to add chores this year as they progress with the ones already assigned.

Bailey is eight.  She is tasked with making sure her room is cleaned daily before bed.  Items left out of place become the property of her father and I (some items are tossed/given away, some are retained and must be purchased or earned back).  She has daily chores depending upon the household areas to be cleaned on that day.  Today is Monday and we clean and declutter the kitchen, living rooms and the dog's food area.  She is responsible for cleaning the microwave and toaster and the countertop that they sit on.  She is also responsible for decluttering and dusting all tables and bookcases in those rooms.  And on Mondays, she does her two loads of laundry (her sheets will be washed with her light load).  Bailey and Kennedy unload the dishwasher as a team every day.

Kennedy is five.  She is learning how to make sure her room is cleaned daily.  In the kitchen, she cleans the outside of the oven, fridge and dishwasher.  She makes sure that all of the movies are put away and tidy.  She vacuums the sofas.  Kennedy and Bailey unload the dishwasher as a team every day.

Addison is four.  She used to work alongside her sisters more but we have pulled her out of most of the chores, for now...   I have determined that the two big sisters need to learn to work more as a team, providing an example to the younger two.  Addison is learning the steps to keeping her room clean.  Her chores are to help Mommy with whatever Mommy is doing. 

Mother has learned that she must not just come to check but must remain at the side of her child and encourage and lend a hand....at least for now....for many weeks....  

Lending a hand and "catching her where she falls"... lots of encouragement without the critique...

The children learn each day but I think it is the momma that does most of the learning on most of the days.

~~~~~~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

January 10, 2011

...every moment...

 

"Right now counts forever."

                                           ~~ R. C. Sproul

 

Faithful Eyes

"It is in her own home that warmth of heart and openness of hand are first to be shown.  It is as wife and mother that a woman performs her most sacred ministry.  Her hand wipes away the teardrops when there is sorrow.  In sickness, she is that tender nurse.  She bears upon her own heart every burden that weighs upon her husband.  No matter how the world goes with him during the day, when he enters his own door he meets the fragrant atmosphere of love.  Other friends may forsake him, but she clings to him with unalterable fidelity.  When gloom comes down and adversity falls upon him, her faithful eyes look ever into his like two stars of hope shining in the darkness.  When his heart is crushed, beneath her smile it gathers itself again into strength."

                                                                                                   ~~J. R. Miller, Home-Making

 

Lord, continue to carve away the sharp edges that jut out and scrape, wound or irritate the soul of my beloved husband. 

May I always bear the burdens of my beloved...

May he always enter his home to find a pleasing atmosphere of love...

May I always bring hope to him...

May I always be a source of encouragement and strength to him...

May he always look into faithful eyes...

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

October 25, 2010

True Freedom

Are you good enough.......?

 

Heaven.

Heaven?

Heaven?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You goin' to Heaven?

??

You good enough to get in?

??

Give to others?

Sacrifice for others?

Serve others?

No stealing.

No murder.

Nothing too bad, right?

~~~

I make some mistakes but I am pretty good at heart.  I don't mean any harm.

I do my best.

Do I really need God?  Do you really need God?

..another year with my beloved..

I remember the very day that I realized that I was falling in love with this man...

:0)

 

We married October 3rd, 1992.

 

18 years of marriage...

I am so thankful for my dearest Aaron. 

I love him so tremendously that there simply are no words to truly express it.

"Perfect harmony cannot be forced in a day, cannot indeed be forced at all, but must come through gentleness and perhaps only after many days.  There must mutual adaptation, and time must be allowed for this.  The present duty is unselfish love.  Each much forget self in devotion to the other.  Each must blame self and not the other when anything goes wrong.  There must be the determination on the part of both to make the marriage happy and to conquer everything that lies in the way.  Then the very differences between the two lives will become their closest points of union.  When they have passed through this process of blending, though it may for the time be painful and perilous, the result will be a wedded life of deep peace, quiet joy and inseparable affection."   

"Pride must have no place in wedded life.  There must never be any standing upon dignity, nor any nice calculation as to whose place it is to make the apology or to yield first to the other.  True love knows no such casuistry; it seeks not its own; it delights in being foremost in forgiving and yielding.  There is no lesson that husbands and wives need more to learn than instantly and always to seek forgiveness of each other whenever they are conscious of having in any way caused pain or committed a wrong.  The pride that will never say, "I did wrong; forgive me," is not ready for wedded life." 

"When the wedded life is ruled by love, then the bridal wreath remains fresh and fragrant till it is laid upon the coffin by the loving hands of the one who survives to close the eyes of the other; and the wedding music and the peals of the bells continue to echo in tones of gladness and peace until hushed in the sobbings of sorrow when the singers sing in dirges and the bells toll out the number of the finished years."

                                                                         J. R. Miller, Home-Making, Chapter 1

 

Perhaps the Lord will allow us another 18 years together on this earth.

I would be so blessed...

Truly forever honored to be Mrs. Aaron Klause

I love you Aaron.

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

October 3, 2010

Music: Legends of the Fall; It's Always You

 

 

...and have not charity, I am nothing...

 

1 Corinthians 13

 ¹Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

 ²And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

 ³And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

 ⁴Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

 ⁵Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

 ⁶Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

 ⁷Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

 ⁸Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

 ⁹For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

 ¹⁰But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

 ¹¹When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

 ¹²For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

 ¹³And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 

~~~

posted by Mrs. Aaron Klause

  

Work About The House Wednesdays - Keeping It All Clean & Tidy & Organized

Keeping the house, yard and garage all clean and tidy and organized...

Ha ha ha ha ha!  :0)

We try.

Here is how we do it at our house... 

Each day of the week we have areas of the home that are our focus for the day.  That area is to be cleaned and all the clutter piles cleared up.  If reorganization or changes need to be made, we do it on that day.

Mondays - Kitchen, Living Room, Sitting Room & the dog's things

Tuesdays - Laundry Room, Children's Bedroom

Wednesdays - Playroom, Pantry, Supply Closet (this is the catch all that has everything from board games to storage boxes)

Thursdays - Master Bedroom, All Floors

Fridays - Bathrooms

Saturdays - Garage, Vehicles, Yard and Schoolroom

~~

This is very helpful in keeping us focused.  I am one that has a tendency to want to randomly clean out areas of clutter.  This actually makes more messes for me as I interject extra work into my days.  Ultimately and truthfully, it causes a lack of focus and incomplete projects.  My sweet husband calls it a sickness.  Hehe...   :0)    

In all seriousness, I so desire to be a good steward of our home and to teach our children to be good stewards, to be organized and to be able to follow through with things. 

~~

Saturday was a wonderful day of laboring together as a family.  The grass was mowed, the weeds cleared from the front flower beds, about 1/4 of the garage was tidied up, both vehicles were completely cleared out and cleaned!  Yippee!  This Saturday we can tidy another 1/4 of the garage and see about getting rid of those Clutter Monsters that have creeped into our little schoolroom. 

~~

"Let all things be done decently and in order."  ~~I Corinthians 14:40

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."  ~~I Corinthians 10:31

~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

April 28, 2010

Matters of Motherhood on Mondays

Matters of Motherhood...

I have not been a mother for very long.  Little over nine years now...as counted from the time I was actually blessed with the gift of motherhood.  :0)  That would be 37 weeks prior to the birth of my eldest.

This little blog began as mostly a way to communicate with family that lived far away and to serve as a bit of a journal.  It has changed over time and is now very much a journal for my children.

~~~

I often think of things, typically small things really, that I might have done differently as I watch my girls go through their days.  My children are young and we work daily at creating good habits with cheerful hearts as well as lacing the hours with God's word.

After talking with a lot of other mommas, I believe our days are just like other homeschooling families.  Some days we travel through our days with a clear forward momentum.  Everyone is working together, things are getting done, small character training opportunities are found all day long, school is done, meals are cooked and cleaned, chores are accomplished, little ones learn as we go. 

THEN...we have days where we seem to be either taking constant steps backwards...  Well, truthfully, they feel more like taking a step backwards and then falling firmly on your back.  :0/   Those days where we struggle to get everyone dressed and ready within an hour because there are constant "character training opportunities".  :)   That phrase sounded better in the paragraph above!   Days where we seem to go from one part of our day to the next leaving huge messes behind and where we have one crisis after the next. 

~~~

{sigh}

And such is life...

We all have good days and rough days.  There are mountaintops and valleys for all of us. 

My children are young and I believe that training of their habits and their hearts is paramount.  I have, over the years now, begun to look at child training a bit like whittling.  Whittling is a slow process.  My hand holds the knife to carve but mother and father must humbly seek the Lord to guide the direction of the strokes.  

Now with four children in our home, I see even more areas of their hearts that need a finer and more careful strokes. 

I see little things and big things that need to be changed and refined.  Hindsight is often 20/20.  I cannot go back and change but I can redirect our paths as I learn more and continue to lean upon the Lord.

~~~

Perhaps the Lord will see fit that I might see my grandchildren grow into adults...perhaps not...  Even if I am granted that earthly privilege, I would never be able to recall the details of the days.  And so, that has become the primary purpose of this little blog...

...to be a journal of my learning and growing as a wife and mother...

....so that my daughters might live and learn from my journey....

So, on Mondays, I shall purpose to make record of specific matters of motherhood. 

You are welcome to join me if you like...

:0)

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

 April 19, 2010

The Secret of A Beautiful Life

 

"There lived once a young girl whose perfect grace of character was the wonder of those who knew her.  She wore on her neck a gold locket which no one was ever allowed to open.  One day, in a moment of unusual confidence, one of her companions was allowed to touch its spring and learn its secret.  She saw written these words ---"Whom having not seen, I love."  That was the secret of her beautiful life."

                                                                                                            ~Author Unknown

~~~

That was the secret of her beautiful life.

That...

Her love of Christ.

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  ~Matthew 22:37-38

I pray that the husbands of my daughters might have to seek the Lord completely to gain her attention.

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

April 1, 2010

Without Words

“When you pray, rather let your heart be without words than your words without heart.”

                                                                                                     ~~~ John Bunyan

Darcy Cheyenne Klause ~ ~ His Reward

 

Darcy Cheyenne Klause

Born on Tuesday, November 17th at 11:39 p.m. (on her due date)

 7 pounds 5 ounces; 20.5 inches long

~~~

Big sisters seeing her for the first time.

~~~

Big Sister Addison holding Darcy Cheyenne.  She just giggled when she saw her.  Kennedy did the very same thing the first time that she saw Baby Addison. 

~~~

Kennedy holding Darcy Cheyenne for the first time.  Kennedy has so looked forward to Darcy's arrival.

 

~~~

Bailey holding her for the first time.  There is a good possibility that Bailey will not put her down for months.  :0)

~~~

My parents cooing over their newest blessing.

~~~

She has been very alert and content when she is awake.

Her hair is very dark brown like my mother's hair; so dark brown that you have to look close to decide that it is brown and not black.

~~~

Daddy is getting me ready to go home!

~~~~

Darcy Cheyenne's sisters were so very happy to have her home.

~~~

Little Darcy was known of before the world was created...and knit together by the very hand of God.  What an amazing miracle.

I am so thankful for this wee child. 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.  ~~James 1:17

Mommy & Darcy Cheyenne

Psalm 127

Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. 

It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. 

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 

As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 

Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

November 21, 2009

Music:  Pretty Little Baby/Big Snow in Salzburg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

The Tapestry

Recently while visiting with three of my sisters (in Christ), we were discussing our paths in this life...the things in which the Lord allows and how each of those things draw us nearer to Christ.  I mentioned that so often what is happening does not make sense to us...whether it be in the timing or the events or the place or sometimes just the entire situation makes no sense to us.  We were encouraging one another in our faith in the Lord and how not understanding does not negate obedience to our Heavenly Father.  I mentioned that it must be the love and mercy of the Lord that does not allow us to see it all at once.  I suspect that we simply could not bear the load. 

The full truth...

The full degree of His glory in the situation...

The full burden of our own sin...

The complete forgiveness that envelopes us...

The total sacrifice that was made for our sins...

The amazing mercy that is being showered upon us...

I see our lives much like a tapestry.  We see our lives from the back side of that tapestry.  There are colors here and there and stray threads and stops and starts that make no sense.  The back of the tapestry is almost like a blurred image.  As soon as we get comfortable with being pulled this way, suddenly our thread is cut in half or twisted tightly into a knot.  Sometimes the thread gets pulled so firmly that it breaks into two pieces. 

I believe that the reality and the truth is that we have no ability to totally conceive how amazing and wonderful our lives will appear when one day we stand in Glory and the Lord turns the tapestry of our lives around and we see the front side.  Perhaps it will all make sense...the timing, the things denied, the things that never made any sense, the hurt, the disappointment... 

Or perhaps we will never see the front...  Perhaps we will fall on our faces before our Creator and the things of this life will never cross our minds again. 

The tapestry seems to help me see that I do not need to understand.  I do not need to see the front.  I need to ensure that I am daily lying the thread of my life out before the Lord.  I just need to trust the hand that weaves me through the eye of the needle and have faith in the direction in which the thread of my life is being pulled.  Know that the twisting, breaking, cutting and pulling is simply what is best and what brings God glory.

"But you will imagine that it is best that He should at once enable you to see clearly.  If it is, you may be sure He will do it.  He never makes mistakes.  But He often deals far differenly with His disciples.  He lets them grope their way in the dark until they fully learn how blind they are, how helpless, how absolutely in need of Him.  What His methods will be with you I cannot fortell.  But you may be suret hat He never works in an arbitrary way.  He has a reason for everything He does.  You may notunderstand why He leads you now in this way and now in that, but you may, nay, you must believe that perfection is stamped on His every act."  ~~Elizabeth Prentiss from Stepping Heavenward~~ 

Proverbs 3

 ¹My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

 ²For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

 ³Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

 ⁴So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

 ⁵Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

 ⁶In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

 ⁷Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

 ⁸It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

 ⁹Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

 ¹⁰So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

 ¹¹My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

 ¹²For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

 ¹³Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

 ¹⁴For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

 ¹⁵She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

 ¹⁶Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

 ¹⁷Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

 ¹⁸She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

 ¹⁹The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

 ²⁰By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

 ²¹My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

 ²²So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

 ²³Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

 ²⁴When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

 ²⁵Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

 ²⁶For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

 ²⁷Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

 ²⁸Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

 ²⁹Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

 ³⁰Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

 ³¹Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

 ³²For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.

 ³³The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

 ³⁴Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

 ³⁵The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

~~~~~~~]

posted by Mrs. Klause

November 19, 2009

 

Half A Gospel Is No Gospel of All

** Scroll down and look to your right to pause the music first. **

~~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

November 12, 2009

Teacup Tuesdays - Tea Time Ideas

It has been some time since I posted regular Teacup Tuesdays.  :)    Perhaps I can return to that soon.We still have tea regularly at our house.  Typically in the mornings.It has been several weeks since a tea party has been spread about our dining room table though.  :0)  The girlies really like to set up a nice tea party as a surprise for Mother.  

I thought I would brainstorm a few very simple tea time ideas since the days will be soon be so busy with a new little one.

~~ Midnight tea.  Perhaps that would make for a lovely memory with this wee little girl for a few weeks until she is sleeping mostly through the night (optimism..you know it). 

~~ I often enclose a teabag when sending a thank you note or a card to friend.  I will have a few 'thank         yous' to send. 

~~ When we are with Mother, we like to hit the local thrift stores to see if we can find a treasure or two.  Lovely old linens or little bud vases are easily found in thrift stores for just pennies.  Perhaps Mother and the girls can find us a new pretty while she is here after Baby Sister is born.

~~ The holiday season is nearing which means that peppermint sticks will be in abundance.  Time to pick up a bag next time someone is at the grocery store!  The children just love to stir their tea with a peppermint stick.

~~ Perhaps we can build a few tea parties over the next many weeks around our favorite little picture story books?  I'm thinking teatime in the afternoon will correspond nicely with an afternoon nursing.  ;0)

    ~ The Tale of Peter Rabbit - Kennedy's stuffed rabbit can join us and we can read the book while we sip our tea.

    ~ The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy Winkle - I think little girls might like to roll some napkins and pin them with some of my wooden clothespins.  Bailey or Mother can read the book.

    ~ Baking Day - The girlies can gather a few cookie cutters, the small rolling pin, the biscuit cutter    and the whisk to put into a basket for a centerpiece and we will have Daddy or Amma (my mother) pick us up some cookies or a pie at the store. 

Hmm...  That will take care of a few tea parties after Baby Sister is born!  Sounds enjoyable for all.   :0)

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

November 10, 2009

A Mother's Prayer

A Mother's Prayer

The sweetest sound heard through our earthly home,

The brightest ray that gleams from heaven's dome,

The loveliest flower that e'er from earth's breast rose,

That purest flame that, quivering, gleams and glows,

Are found along, where kneels a mother mild,

With heart uplifted, praying for her child.

~

The stream of tears can never cease to flow

Long as life's sun shall shine on us below;

And many angels have been sent by God

To count the tear drops wept upon life's road;

But of all the tears that glow, the least defiled

Are when a mother prays beside her child.

~

Because it is to mortal eyes unseen,

Ye call it foolishness, a childish dream,

In vain, ye cannot rob me of that thought,

That legend with such heavenly sweetness fraught,

That blessed angels have for ages smiled

To see a mother praying for her child.

Anonymous

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

November 9, 2009

"God's Word says..."

Addison is 3, Kennedy is 4.  They are 16 months apart.

They love one another dearly and are the best of friends.  They play so well together.  They truly enjoy one another's company.

However, when they do squabble....whew....DO THEY SQUABBLE!

:0)

Yesterday morning the girls are getting ready for the day and I am putting books on the shelf in the library (all on the second floor and all rooms are open to one another).  I hear Addison tell Kennedy, "Kn-dy, God's Wo-rwd says you awe not to be wude to you-rw sist-rw!"

Translation: Kennedy, God's Word says you are not to be rude to your sister!

:0)

I turn, trying not to laugh, to see the two facing one another at the top of the stairwell looking seriously at one another.

~~~

Over the last year, I have learned that God's perfect Word, the two-edged sword, will truly pierce right into the hearts of the children.  God's Word changes us.  Why would it be any different for our children?  Why do we feel some overwhelming need to water down scripture for our children?  It makes sense that we speak His Word directly to our children. 

Taking the wisdom of someone quite dear to me, I made myself some note cards so that I would always have God's Word in-hand, I set forth about this time last year to correct and teach the children in the moment(as the anger, laziness, lying, impatience {name the sin} was actually occurring) with the words of our Creator instead of my own words.  I also set forth to encourage the children with the Word of God when I saw Christ-like behavior/words in them.

God's Word is amazing...  The Sword Is Sufficient

~~~

So, yesterday, we sat down to talk about what God's Word says about being rude to your sisters. 

:0)

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

October 15, 2009

Music: Word of God Speak

I will follow Thee...

"...Christianity is fundamentally an experience in losing the lives of our dreams in order to receive the lives Jesus died to give us.  Those who would bear the name Christian credibly experience a tremendous amount of abandonment in life." **

56For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.  57And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.  58And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.  59And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.  60Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.  61And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.  62And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.  ~~Luke 9:56-62

"Jesus is our only hope.  If Christians are truly willing to leave everything to follow Him, then they will, in fact, eventually leave everything." **

"The question is, 'Can we lean into the abandomnment?  Can we accept it as the Savior's invitation to find our lives at long last?'"  **

~~~

"We cannot change ourselves, and we cannot help but be changed when He reveals more of Himself to us.  To follow Jesus is to enter the lifelong process of discovering more about God than we know, discovering that "my ways are not your ways," discovering that we have been worshipping not God but an expectation of God.  Nothing makes it harder to see God than our own expectations of Him.  They blind us to the new ways He is at work saving our lives.  Conversion pulls us away from being religious, away from having all the answers.  It turns us into pilgrims who journey though life..." **

~~~

"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy mind and with all thy soul.  This is the first and great commandment."  ~~Matthew 22:37-38

About two years ago I asked the Lord to teach me how to love Him with all my heart, all my mind and all my soul.  I told the Lord that I didn't know how.  I told the Lord that I loved my husband and my children more than I loved Him.  And...truthfully, and sadly, there were probably many other things that I loved more than my Savior.  I told the Lord that I wanted to obey this first and great commandment.

~~~

"Christianity isn't something we get good at.  Jesus' teachings are not hard; they are impossible.  Those who first heard Jesus' statement that the rich man is like a camel trying to pass through the eye of aneedle were shocked.  They asked, "They who can be saved?"  The Savior's response was that while it is impossible to be a Christian, all things are possible with God.  It always, always gets back to receiving grace.  But if we are used to earning our own way, nothing could be harder." **

"Faith means betting our lives on the grace of God."  **

~~~

We must learn how to follow which means that we must give up the expectation of knowing where we are going.

One single day at a time...

It is the only way...

Going to receive our daily manna...His perfect word, just for this day...

~~~

** Quotes from M. Craig Barnes

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

September 7, 2009

His Reward

 

Once a woman came upon three mothers at work.  "What are you doing?" she asked of them.

"I'm doing the weekly washing," answered the first.

"I'm doing a bit of household drudgery," replied the second.

The third woman replied, "I'm mothering three young children who someday will fill important and useful spheres in life, and wash-day is a part of my grand task in caring for these souls who shall live forever." 

Only the third woman had caught the vision of the great work she was doing.

-Author Unknown

~~~

     "A home without children is only a fragment of a home.  Its life, however happy, is a song with the sweetest part left out.  Where no children come the husband and wife miss much that is deepest and richest in life.  Their wedded joy never realizes its fullest measure of tenderness.  There are chords in their hearts that are never waked.  There are whole fields in their natures that are never brought under culture.  There are powers and capacities in their souls that are never developed.  They lose many a deep lesson that can be read from no book save from the pages of unfolding child-life.  They miss many an inspiration of purity, of gentleness, of unselfishness, of beauty, for God has so constituted us that only in loving and caring for children are the richest and best things in us drawn out.  Then when old age comes on, how lonely is the childless home, with neither son nor daughter to come back with grateful ministries, to bring solace and comfort to the declining years!"

     "Our homes would be very cold and dreary without the children.  Sometimes we weary of their noise.  They certainly bring us a great deal of care and solicitude.  They cost us no end of toil.  When they are very young they break our rest many a weary night with their colics and teethings, and when they grow older they wellnigh break our hearts many a time with their waywardness.  After they come to us we may as well bid farewell to living for self and to personal ease and independence, if we mean to do faithful duty as parents.  There are some who therefore look upon the coming of children as a misfortune.  They talk about them lightly as "responsibilities."  They regard them as in the way of their pleasure.  They see no blessing in them.  But it is cold selfishness that looks upon children in this way.  Instead of being hindrances to true and noble living, they are helps.  They bring benedictions from heaven when they come, and while they stay they are perpetual benedictions."

     "It is a great thing to take these young and tender lives, rich with so many possibilities of beauty, of joy, of power, all of which may be wrecked, and to become responsible for their shaping and training and for the upbuilding fo their character.  This is what must be thought of in the making of a home."

                                      ~ Excerpt from Home-making by J. R. Miller, originally published in 1882

~~~

Psalm 127

 1Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

 2It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

 3Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

 4As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

 5Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

July 17, 2009

Music: Fur Elise

Once a woman came upon three mothers at work.  "What are you doing?" she asked of them.

"I'm doing the weekly washing," answered the first.

"I'm doing a bit of household drudgery," replied the second.

The third woman replied, "I'm mothering three young children who someday will fill important and useful spheres in life, and wash-day is a part of my grand task in caring for these souls who shall live forever." 

Only the third woman had caught the vision of the great work she was doing.

-Author Unknown

~~~

     "A home without children is only a fragment of a home.  Its life, however happy, is a song with the sweetest part left out.  Where no children come the husband and wife miss much that is deepest and richest in life.  Their wedded joy never realizes its fullest measure of tenderness.  There are chords in their hearts that are never waked.  There are whole fields in their natures that are never brought under culture.  There are powers and capacities in their souls that are never developed.  They lose many a deep lesson that can be read from no book save from the pages of unfolding child-life.  They miss many an inspiration of purity, of gentleness, of unselfishness, of beauty, for God has so constituted us that only in loving and caring for children are the richest and best things in us drawn out.  Then when old age comes on, how lonely is the childless home, with neither son nor daughter to come back with grateful ministries, to bring solace and comfort to the declining years!"

     "Our homes would be very cold and dreary without the children.  Sometimes we weary of their noise.  They certainly bring us a great deal of care and solicitude.  They cost us no end of toil.  When they are very young they break our rest many a weary night with their colics and teethings, and when they grow older they wellnigh break our hearts many a time with their waywardness.  After they come to us we may as well bid farewell to living for self and to personal ease and independence, if we mean to do faithful duty as parents.  There are some who therefore look upon the coming of children as a misfortune.  They talk about them lightly as "responsibilities."  They regard them as in the way of their pleasure.  They see no blessing in them.  But it is cold selfishness that looks upon children in this way.  Instead of being hindrances to true and noble living, they are helps.  They bring benedictions from heaven when they come, and while they stay they are perpetual benedictions."

     "It is a great thing to take these young and tender lives, rich with so many possibilities of beauty, of joy, of power, all of which may be wrecked, and to become responsible for their shaping and training and for the upbuilding fo their character.  This is what must be thought of in the making of a home."

                                      ~ Excerpt from Home-making by J. R. Miller, originally published in 1882

~~~

Psalm 127

 1Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

 2It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

 3Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

 4As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

 5Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

July 17, 2009

Music: Fur Elise

Teacup Tuesdays - A Surprise Saturday Afternoon Tea

I know...it is not Tuesday but sometimes you just have to jump right in and get started with things...

Poor old Teacup Tuesday has fallen by the wayside in the last three months.  Let's see if we can start again.  :)

~~~~~~~~~

Several days ago Kennedy was privileged to spend a day with her Daddy.  While they were gone, Addison and Bailey prepared a tea party for me...as a surprise.

It was planned last-minute so Bailey was creative and used what she had on-hand.

~~~~~~~~~~

 

Here are the little party planners.

 

The girls set our pretty glass plates and selected teacups from the cabinet.  Addison and I had prepared oatmeal cookie dough that morning and it was in a bowl in the fridge awaiting further work.  Bailey decided to bake some cookies (with permission).  The pan that the cookies are on is still hot.  I was just getting ready to put the cookies on a plate.

 

What you see here is a lovely bouquet of tissue paper flowers and skewered pickles. 

:)

The plan was to make a nice arrangement of skewered fruit but none of the fruit that we had on hand was suitable for Bailey's cutting and skewering so she and Addison talked about it and Addison (age 2) suggested pickles instead. 

In the teapot is grape kool-aid.  We have kool-aid about once a year around here and we had prepared a pitcher the day before.  Bailey thought and thought and could not remember the order of operation to prepare hot tea.  She was trying to keep this a surprise so she decided that grape kool-aid would be a nice alternative.

~~

Bailey sweetly and lovingly scolded me for not doing a better job of teaching her how to make hot tea.  :)  She actually does know how but I suppose it has been too long since she did it all on her own.  Addison is typically the one that selects and prepares tea with me.  Bailey and Kennedy usually take care of setting the table, pouring the cream and such.

So...

It seems that a bit of Teatime Tutoring is called for...

It was a lovely and yummy surprise Saturday Tea Party.  I am so thankful for oatmeal cookies, sweet pickles and grape kool-aid.  What a sweet memory to tuck away. 

In my rocking chair with a lovely teacup in my hand is where I can be found at least once every single day. 

I suspect that one day...

...when I am old and grey...

...you will still find me rocking...

...teacup in hand...

...perhaps enjoying spearmint tea...

...or blueberry tea...

...steaming coffee...

...or even grape kool-aid...

:0)

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

July 9, 2009

Twigs & Feathers -- Part I

Nesting...

:)  An interesting part of God's creation...

I think it is an amazing and curious part of how God created a woman.  Every pregnant woman that I have ever known has gone through a period of time during her pregnancy in which she has an overwhelming need to get all things in her home in order. 

I am so thankful for this "nesting". 

~~~

My To-Do List - Cleaning & Organizing

1.  Clean out my closet - Done!  Whoo-hooo and it wasn't so bad.

2.  Clean out the school closet - Done!  And it took quite some time to sort through stray game & puzzle pieces and get all the crayons back to their containers and such.

3.  Clean out coat closet - Done!  My dear friend, Mrs. Spangler, came with her children on Tuesday and announced upon their arrival that at least one household project could be done while we visited. -- All done!

4.  Clean out Bailey's closet

5.  Re-organize sewing cabinet

6.  Clean out the garage

7.  Sort through, organize and store all children's clothing.

8.  Clean out the junk drawer in the kitchen (and the junk cabinet - who put all that stuff in there?)

~~~~

My To-Do List - Acquiring Items for the Wee Littlest One

When we moved out-of-state, we got rid of all items that were not absolutely necessary which meant almost all baby items. 

1.  Cradle and/or Crib

2.  Car seat

3.  Wee tiny clothes for a wee tiny girl.

4.  Sew burp rags, changing pads and bibs.

5.  Locate (in the garage) the box of baby items we kept and clean them for use.

~~~~

Nesting...a time to give thanks to God for this new life...

Nesting...a time to pray for the life of this new little girl...

Nesting...a time to praise the Lord for the blessing of this child...

Nesting...a time to seek guidance from the Lord on how to raise up this child for His glory...

~~~

Time to go!

There are twigs to be gathered and soft feathers that need to be woven into the nest! 

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

July 4, 2009

 

 

This is His day.

Addison wakes first typically; around 6:30 a.m.

My beloved husband was just about to leave the house so he was blessed with her smile and kisses to start his day and she with the loving embrace of her father.

Addison (age 2) and I sat at the table together.  I had a cup of coffee and she enjoyed a cup of blueberry tea.  She was noticing the sunrise and commenting on how far it reached (all the way from one neighbor's yard to the other neighbor's yard which was as far as she could see).  I told her that God brought the sun to us in the east every morning.  As we discussed directions and talked more of the sunrise, I began to recall a thought that has passed tthrough my mind more times than I can count over the last many years.

The miracle of the sunrise...

The sunrise is an amazing miracle when you stop to think about all that happens...

...yet it's daily occurrence seems to numb our senses to the beauty and the simply amazing creation...

When I stop and remind myself of this, I always think of Psalm 118:24:

"This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."

This day, today, God created this day.

I shall rejoice and be glad in this day.  I must set my mind to rejoicing in all things today.

What is His purpose and His plan in my life .. on this day that He has created?

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

June 23, 2009

Music: Make My Life A Prayer To You

..all things..

"By perseverance the snail reached the ark."  

                                   ~~Charles Spurgeon

"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."  ~~Matthew 19:26

~~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

June 15, 2009

How shall I hide?

"A prudent man forseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished."  ~~Proverbs 27:12

This verse stayed with me this morning. 

I began to think about it and dissect it and hold it up to my moment-by-moment decisions. 

I went to look up the original Hebrew words that Proverbs was written in to ensure that I was reading what was actually written.  (The Interlinear Bible is where you locate the bible in the original Hebrew and Greek just in case you are not familiar.)

~~~

A prudent or sensible person will discern, will inspect, will give attention to, will distinguish...

...the evil, distress, misery, adversity, calamity...

--- This next phrase is what caught my heart this morning. ---

"..AND HIDETH HIMSELF.."

To hide means to conceal.  

..but the simple or the foolish...

..pass on or traverse or advance..

..and are punished or condemned.. 

Once we accept Christ as our Savior, we are forgiven; however, we live with the consequences of our sin.

So...according to God...in Proverbs 27:12, I can be wise and discerning and see the sin coming and hide myself from it or I can just go on and walk right in and suffer the condemnation and consequences. 

Hmmm...makes me want to truly ponder each moment even further so that I can foresee the evil.  Causes me to realize how far I am from truly "praying without ceasing".

~~~

When I think about it, this is how I hide from evil.  Or I don't bother to hide at all.

If you look up the word conceal**, it means to withdraw from observation or to cover and keep from sight.  If you look up the word hide**, it means to put oneself in a condition to be safe.

Think on that...

Think of a common sin in your daily life or something that you struggle with.  God's word says that we are to be keen enough to see the evil coming and then we are to put ourselves into a condition in which we will be safe from the evil.

My mind wandered further...

I began to think of how God created animals and their ability to hide themselves from danger.  So, I went looking for some visual examples.

This is a seahorse that is hidden in some coral.

An owl sitting plainly in sight, yet seemingly sitting in a position to keep herself safe.

This is a red goby hidden amongst coral.

A spider sitting on a sunflower.

A jackrabbit in the weeds.

~~~

"This we had before, ch. 22:3. Note, 1. Evil may be foreseen. Where there is temptation, it is easy to foresee that if we thrust ourselves into it there will be sin, and as easy to foresee that if we venture upon the evil of sin there will follow the evil of punishment; and, commonly, God warns before he wounds, having set watchmen over us,Jer. 6:17. 2. It will be well or ill with us according as we do or do not improve the foresight we have of evil before us: The prudent man, foreseeing the evil, forecasts accordingly, and hides himself, but the simple is either so dull that he does not foresee it or so wilful and slothful that he will take no care to avoid it, and so he passes on securely and is punished. We do well for ourselves when we provide for hereafter."  ~~Matthew Henry's Commentary

~~~

So, how then shall I hide myself from evil? 

^"7Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.  ⁸I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."  ~~Psalm 32:7-8

~~~

 "Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word."  ~~Psalm 119:114

~~~

"For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock."  ~~Psalm 27:5

How shall I hide myself?

In His word...

...and on my knees...

~~~

** 1828 Noah Webster's Dictionary

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

May 27, 2009

Music: Light by David Nevue

One of my favorite things...

Addison is two.  I love to hear the words that come from my wee children.  They speak words in the manner that their tiny ears seem to hear them.

Although there are words that they speak that I correct and help them to pronounce appropriately, there are just a few that I do not correct and I shoo family members away from correcting that small handful of words as well. 

The above candy we would call an M & M. 

Addison says:

"N - dough - M"

She likes n-dough-m's a great deal....but then again....who doesn't?

;0)

It will only be a few months in her life that we will get to hear her say those sweet words that cause us to silently smile.  However, I will be old and grey and still remember a tiny voice saying how much liked "n-dough-m's". 

~~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

May 21, 2009

Music:  My Favorite Things

What will enthrall the beloved?

“Love is doing what will enthrall the beloved with the greatest and longest joy. What will enthrall the beloved this way is the glory of God. Love means doing all we can, at whatever cost to ourselves, to help people be enthralled with the glory of God. When they are, they are satisfied and God is glorified. Therefore loving people and glorifying God are one.”  ~~John Piper

~~~~

I read this quote earlier today and have spent a fair amount of time pondering the thought. 

It's meaning encompasses far more than I realized the first time I read it through.  I began to think of this statement with a more broad "stroke".

John 15:12 - "This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you."

1 Pet 1:22 -

"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:"

1 John 4:12 - "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us."

~~~~

 

I love my husband. 

     “Love is doing what will enthrall the my husband with the greatest and longest joy. What will enthrall the my husband this way is the glory of God. Love means doing all I can, at whatever cost to myself, to help my husband be enthralled with the glory of God. When he is, my husband will be satisfied and God is glorified. Therefore loving my husband and glorifying God are one.”

~~~~

I love my children.

“Love is doing what will enthrall my children with the greatest and longest joy. What will enthrall my children this way is the glory of God. Love means doing all I can , at whatever cost to me, to help my children be enthralled with the glory of God. When my children are, my children are satisfied and God is glorified. Therefore loving my children and glorifying God are one.

~~~~

I love my family...my father, my mother, my brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandparents, in-laws, aunts, uncles, cousins...

Love is doing what will enthrall my family with the greatest and longest joy. What will enthrall my father this way is the glory of God. Love means doing all I can, at whatever cost to myself, to help my mother be enthralled with the glory of God. When my brothers are, they are satisfied and God is glorified. Therefore loving my family and glorifying God are one.

~~~~

I love my church family.

Love is doing what will enthrall my church family with the greatest and longest joy. What will enthrall the men, women & children in my church this way is the glory of God. Love means doing all I can, at whatever cost to myself, to help my brothers & sisters in Christ to be enthralled with the glory of God. When my church family is, they are satisfied and God is glorified. Therefore loving the men, women & children in my church and glorifying God are one.

~~~~

 

I love my friends.

Love is doing what will enthrall my friends with the greatest and longest joy.  What will enthrall my friends this way is the glory of God.  Love means doing all I can, at whatever the cost to myself, to help my friends be enthralled by the glory of God.  When my friends are, they are satisfied and God is glorified.  Therefore, loving my friends and glorifying God are one. 

~~~~

Words to think about...

Words to hold up to scripture to find truth...

My own thoughts to ponder.

My own actions to consider.

What exactly am I doing to enthrall my husband, my children, my family, my church and my friends with The Longest and The Greatest Joy? 

How are my words and my actions bringing glory to God every moment of every single day?

~~~~

All for His glory...

~~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

May 19, 2009

Music: Stars & Butterflies

Good stewards of the manifold of God...

"Do you often feel like parched ground, unable to produce anything worthwhile? I do. When I am in need of refreshment, it isn't easy to think of the needs of others. But I have found that if, instead of praying for my own comfort and satisfaction, I ask the Lord to enable me to give to others, an amazing thing often happens - I find my own needs wonderfully met. Refreshment comes in ways I would never have thought of, both for others, and then, incidentally, for myself."

                                                                                        ~~Elisabeth Elliot

~~~~

I Peter 4:10 -- As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold of God.

II John 1:5 -- And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

April 30. 2009

Music: Make My Life A Prayer To You

..only on Thee..

"Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day."  ~~Psalm 25:5

~

posted by Mrs. Klause

April 1, 2009

Music: Be Thou My Vision

Learning To Dance

"Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass.

It’s about learning to dance in the rain."

~~

I swiped this quote right off the blog of a wonderful and beautiful woman that I know. 

I love this...

...learning to dance in the rain...

Dance...wherever I may be...

He is my Lord. 

Ready to lead me.

No matter where I might be.

~~

Thank you for this reminder, Mrs. Spangler.

~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

March 20, 2009

Music:  Lord of the Dance

Not vainglory but lowliness...

"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."  ~~Philippians 2:3

~~~

We do not like to admit it.  Most of us think quite highly of ourselves.

The bible says that pride is a shameful thing.  This world teaches that being proud of who we are and what we can accomplish is a good thing.

This morning as I was stirring the cream into my coffee, I watched as the cream swirled into the coffee and simply disappeared into the coffee.  I thought of how easily we swirl into the world. 

We are to be set apart. 

To love the Lord with all of our hearts and all of our minds and all of our souls sets us apart...it makes us different...  It is not the warm and comfortable swirl.

We should be more like oil to water.  No matter how much you stir or shake...they don't mix.

When we find goodness within ourselves, when we raise our heads high with quiet pride...

We are comfortably swirling.

~~

Where in my life, on this day, is there stife?

Where in my life, on this day that the Lord has made, is there vainglory?

God, make it clear to me...

...again...

Cause me to know lowliness as Christ knew it.

Change my heart; draw me nearer.

~~~

Everything,

everyday,

every conversation,

every thought,

every moment..

It must all be for His glory.

posted by Mrs. Klause

March 13, 2009

New Lessons To Be Learned

Oh how I love spring!

The feel of the warm sun on my back...

...seeing the sparrows pop along in the grass.  They remind me of popping corn as they all hip-hop-pop along.  :)

I have tried gardening on a very small scale a few times over the years.  A few potted potted tomatoes and peppers and strawberries.

This year, I asked my beloved if we could plant a large garden.  I won't ever learn how if I don't just give it a whirl.    ;0)

I have found that to be the case with all things...cooking, baking breads and desserts, sewing, needlework...   I didn't know how to do those things at one time in my life. 

I find it so sad that the things that were once known by all girls and women are foreign to most today.  When I first decided that I might like to sew, it seemed so very difficult.  I had no idea how I was going to begin to learn to do what seemed to be such a mystery.  The same with making bread...

So, I just tried.  I followed the directions the first time and didn't understand some of what I was doing but I pushed through to the end and learned from the process and the finished product.  And such has been the way since...

This year...

Gardening.

The girls and I are terribly excited!  What wonderful lessons will be learned!

~~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

March 9, 2009

By God's Design

Proverbs 31:10-31

 ¹⁰Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

 ¹¹The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

 ¹²She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

 ¹³She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

 ¹⁴She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

 ¹⁵She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

 ¹⁶She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

 ¹⁷She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

 ¹⁸She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

 ¹⁹She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

 ²⁰She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

 ²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

 ²²She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

 ²³Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

 ²⁴She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

 ²⁵Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

 ²⁶She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

 ²⁷She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

 ²⁸Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

 ²⁹Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

 ³⁰Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

 ³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

March 6, 2009

Bzzzzz...

Busy as bees around here!

:)

Saturday was Kennedy's fourth birthday and Thursday is Bailey's seventh.  We have family and friends arriving to celebrate their lives.

~~~

Tomorrow Nana Klause arrives.

We will have friends over on Thursday.

Pipaw & Amma Simpson arrive on Friday.

Poppa Calvin and Pawpaw & Nana Slider arrive on Saturday.

My brothers and family may join us for the weekend as well.

~~~

I so enjoy having guests in our home. 

What a blessing to have the house a rumble with voices, laughter and even the tears...

Children clattering and chattering about...

The kitchen in constant processession with one meal after the next being prepared...

:)

I pray that our home will always be filled with the hustle and bustle and the comings and goings of family and friends.

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

February 24, 2009

Music: Flight of the Bumblebee

I am just a sinner.

When I say...

“I am a Christian,” I am not shouting, “I am clean living,”;

I am whispering, “I was lost, now I am found and forgiven.”

When I say…

“I am a Christian,” I do not speak of this with pride.

I am confessing that I stumble and I need Christ to be my guide.

When I say…

“I am a Christian,” I am not trying to be strong.

I am professing that I am weak and I need His strength to carry on.

When I say…

“I am a Christian,” I am not bragging of success.

I am admitting I have failed and I need God to clean up my mess.

When I say...

"I am a Christian," I am not claiming to be perfect.

My flaws are far too visible, my failures every single day.

When I say…

“I am a Christian,” I still feel the sting of pain;

I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon the name of Christ.

When I say…

“I am a Christian,” I am not holier than thou, I am just a simple sinner

who received God’s amazing grace.

                                                                  ~~Author & Title Unknown

~~~

 

posted by Mrs. Klause

February 9, 2009

It is I that must be bent...

"We must quit bending the Word to suit our situation. It is we who must be bent to that Word, our necks that must bow under the yoke."

                                               Elisabeth Elliot

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

February 6, 2009

most gladly...

"My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

                                                                 II Corinthians 12:9

~~~

"Most gladly".  It comes only from His grace.  It comes from His sufficiency.  It is not within me to be glad to glory in my infirmities.  It is in my weakness that His strength is made perfect. 

It is when we realize our insufficiency...

It is when we realize the futility of our own strength...

...

...that His power rests upon us...

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

February 4, 2009

There is no shortcut...

Our children are six, three and two.  I so deeply desire to obey God's word and to train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  I fail constantly.  Early on, I was guilty of looking to man and his ways.  I didn't quite realize what I was doing at the time.  After all, I was reading books about child training written by Christian men.  I did, however, fail to CONSTANTLY hold up their every sentence and theory to the perfect word of God. 

I have realized over the last several months that I have not deeply studied God's word to learn about training up our children.  I have read it and I have thought about it and I have prayed about it but I mean digging, hungering, searching...  Not scratching the surface but crying out to God to have an understanding of the words that He has given us.

It is God that careful knit together each of our children within our wombs.  It is God that knows their hearts and minds far more than I will ever be able to even conceive.  As with all of God's ways, there is no prescription or step-by-step method that we can apply to each child. 

I think that Father and Mother must take each child to the throne of God and each child must be prayed over and prayed about and God's will for that child must be sought after.  I don't mean lightly searched for, I mean hunted and chased after as we would search for food if we were starving...

~~~

 "4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:  5And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.  6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:  7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.  8And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.  9And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates."  ~~Deuteronomy 6:4-9

"Have you ever heard this riddle?

Question: What is the first rule for teaching a parakeet how to talk?

Answer:  You must have a larger vocabulary than the parakeet!

The same principle is true of parenting.  If you (like Timothy's mother and grandmother {read II Timothy in the Bible}) are going to teach your children God's Word, you must know the Scriptures yourself.  There is no escaping it.  There is no effective shortcut to studying the Bible yourself.  Of course, you can read them stories from the Bible, anecdotes from a daily devotional quarterly, and catechize them from a catechism manual.  But as good as these methods are, they are not as effective as communicating biblical truth from  your heart directly to theirs with personal insight and application.  For you to rely solely on someone else's preparation of God's Word for your children is to neglect the first part of the passage before us (Deuteronomy 6:6).  Someone has said that a message prepared in a mind reaches a mind, but a message prepared in a life reaches a life.  In other words, the more of God's Word you have internalized for yourself (verse 6) the more effectively you will be able to properly indoctrinate your children in the Scriptures (verses 7-9).  Your goal should be to increasingly become like one of the scribes Jesus speaks of in Matthew 13:52, who knows the Scriptures so well that he "brings forth out of his treasure things new and old," -- that is, things he has learned from others and things he has figured out for himself."

                                                   ~~Teach Them Diligentlyby Lou Priolo, page 12

~~~

Dearest Lord,  May I seek your perfect word for each amazing eternal soul that You have blessed me with.  May I love You with all my heart, all my mind and all my soul so that my children can see and learn to love you with all of their being.  May I refuse all that this world has and chase after only that which is from Your hand.  Help me to dwell in Your word.  Help me to pray without ceasing.  Help me to bind Your law upon my heart.  Help me to meditate upon Your word day and night.  Help me to take every thought captive so that it might be all for Your glory.  Cause me to seek You and Your ways for each of my children, individually.  Lord, cause me to see each day moment-by-moment as a clear step, in the lives of my children, as a step either towards Christ or a step with their backs to their Savior.  God, no matter the circumstances, no matter how painful, please continue to cut away "the branches" in my own heart that need pruning.  Change me; teach me to deny myself; teach me to love You.  Amen.

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

January 23, 2009

May we enjoy them!

Do you enjoy your children?

Some days it is difficult as there is constant intervention and training of their words, their actions, their attitudes, their decisions, their behaviors, their characters...

Children are a blessing, straight from the hand of our Creator.

I cannot possibly care for my children without the constant seeking of Christ.  I am such a selfish and wretched woman that when I attempt (foolishly) to mother them on my own,  I fail so miserably.  I am so rotten.

It is Christ that daily changes my heart.

It is Christ that daily prunes me.  The 'branches' that He cuts away from me are constantly falling.  Self-control assists in protecting the heads of my children from the falling branches...but not always.

God help me not only to take joy in my children but to truly enjoy each of my children every single day.

May you clearly, with no doubt, know the presence of Christ on this day that He hath made.

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

January 12, 2009

Music: In Christ Alone